Abstract
We evaluated the hypothesis that coordinated adjustments in absolute rates of gluconeogenesis (GNGab) and hepatic glycogenolysis (Gly) would maintain euglycemia and match glucose production (GP) to peripheral utilization during rest and exercise. Specifically, we evaluated the extent to which gradations in exercise power output would affect the contribution of GNGab to GP. For these purposes, we employed mass isotopomer distribution analysis (MIDA) and isotope-dilution techniques on eight postabsorptive (PA) endurance-trained men during 90 min of leg cycle ergometry at 45 and 65% peak O2 consumption (V˙o 2 peak; moderate and hard intensities, respectively) and the preceding rest period. GP was constant in resting subjects, whereas the fraction from GNG (fGNG) increased over time during rest (22.3 ± 0.9% at 11.25 h PA vs. 25.6 ± 0.9% at 12.0 h PA, P < 0.05). In the transition from rest to exercise, GP increased in an intensity-dependent manner (rest, 2.0 ± 0.1; 45%, 4.0 ± 0.4; 65%, 5.84 ± 0.64 mg · kg−1 · min−1, P < 0.05), although glucose rate of disappearance exceeded rate of appearance during the last 30 min of exercise at 65%V˙o 2 peak. Compared with rest, increases in GP were sustained by 92 and 135% increments in GNGab during moderate- and hard-intensity exercises, respectively. Correspondingly, Gly (calculated as the difference between GP and MIDA-measured GNGab) increased 100 and 203% over rest during the two exercise intensities. During moderate-intensity exercise, fGNG was the same as at rest; however, during the harder exercise fGNG decreased significantly to account for only 21% of GP. The highest sustained GNGab observed in these trials on PA men was 1.24 ± 0.3 mg · kg−1 · min−1. We conclude that, after an overnight fast, 1) absolute GNG rates increased with intensity of effort despite a reduced fGNG at 65% V˙o 2 peak, 2) during exercise Gly is more responsible than GNGab for maintaining GP, and 3) in 12-h fasted men, neither increased Gly or GNGab nor was their combination able to maintain euglycemia during prolonged hard (65%V˙o 2 peak) exercise.